Special Coverage

Asmussen hearing postponed

The Texas Racing Commission has received a continuance that will postpone a court hearing scheduled for next Tuesday on a motion filed by trainer Steve Asmussen in Travis County district court in Austin. The motion seeks split sample results data on a horse in Asmussen's care who tested positive for lidocaine in May at Lone Star Park.

A Sept. 9 stewards' hearing on the positive test will also be rescheduled as a result of the continuance.

Maggi Moss, an attorney representing Asmussen, said the continuance was requested by the Texas Attorney General's office, which represents the racing commission. According to Moss, Asmussen's motion requests that the racing commission produce split sample testing data from the filly Timber Trick, in advance of the stewards' hearing.

Timber Trick won a maiden race on May 10 then tested positive for lidocaine, a local anesthetic that is a Class 2 drug violation. Moss said Asmussen's legal team has hired Dr. Steven Barker, a scientist with Louisiana State University, to assess the test data they have in the case, which is a urine sample. The motion also seeks a blood sample from the commission.

Texas has a zero-tolerance policy on lidocaine. A stewards' ruling on the positive test has not been issued because Asmussen has not yet had a hearing, said Jean Cook, a spokesperson for the racing commission.